True North Missionaries Journal

To be a model of excellence is a call for all of us to strive for more, for better, for greater. Being in school and living as a catholic living out his faith is sometimes difficult.

Growing up I have always been taught to aim to be the best. To do whatever it takes to be the best.

There is one drawback that I have realized. Once you are the best at something, you have come to an end. I think that’s why a lot of people who achieve success do not know what to do after. They end up looking for something more.

If this is the case I think that we should look at this in different way.

Magis
– the “more” or the “better”

To strive for better or more gives you a different outlook because rather than making one choice that leads you to the “best”, you are given many more opportunities and options that help lead you to better.

Just like how we all have different relationships with the Lord, this means that we all do “better” or achieve “more” when journeying with the Lord.

So with all this said, let us strive to be better in our prayer life, to go the extra mile when it comes to loving our Lord.

Go deeper in prayer. Go deeper in your love story with the Lord.

And with that, may God be forever praised!

Being part of a Catholic community is a blessing.  I have learned to become a better sister, leader, speaker, Canadian, human being because of Couples for Christ. I’ve had the greatest pleasure meeting so many awesome brothers and sisters who inspire me and challenge me.

However, being part of this community also means that in times of self-doubt, there can be the tendency for us to compare ourselves to those who serve us and those we serve.

“She’s more prayerful than me.”

“He’s a better worship leader than I’ll ever be.”

“He/She has it easier than me. Why does he/she seem to never struggle with life? It’s because I’m such a failure and God is punishing me.”

“He/she is so talented. Why can’t I be like that? God would probably answer my prayers more!”

How many times have these words resonated in our own heads? How many times have we heard this from others? It happens doesn’t it? More often than some of us would probably like to admit to. As a Mission Volunteer there are days when I lose sight of my own conviction story with the Lord. Instead of praying for His guidance, I choose to water the seeds of doubt-

“The Lord has turned his back on me. If only I was like her. If only I prayed more fervently. If only I was a better leader. It’s because I’ve fallen again….”

Two weeks ago I had my SFC Household with some of the sisters in Toronto West and we ended up doing a Lectio Divina. This was that day’s gospel:

 

So much came to me that night.

• Jesus was not exempt from praying. He knew he needed time to be with His Father. He went away from the world and spent time in solitude. I should always be humble enough to recognize how important it is for me to pray. I need to call on God’s name for strength, courage and perseverance. I need to ask for His Holy Spirit to guide me in all decisions I make whether they are big or small.
• Jesus, even in all his power and glory, wants to be with us. He meets us where we are. I compare myself to a lot of sisters, and fellow leaders. I doubt my own anointing. I equate the blessings He showers me with to the worthiness I feel. The truth is, we are all unworthy, but that doesn’t stop God from giving. God is the source of all love. He cannot deny the outpouring of Himself to his people. He wants to love me. All of me.
  • “And he came down with them and stood on a stretch of level ground.”
    Jesus comes to us. Jesus is with us. Regardless of where we are in the picture, he acknowledges our presence. He simply sees us as his sons and daughters. He does not look at our sins like an employer looks at a resume. We simply have to desire Him and have faith in Him. He sees what is in our hearts.
• When we choose to find Jesus and spend time with Him, we will be healed. Maybe not right away, but because God is faithful he grants it to us in His perfect time. His presence alone is enough. Even while we wait, the Lord is still at work- everything that happens to us is for a greater purpose. We have to believe that we are made for heaven and that earth is our training ground. Our battles have to be fought, but we are never alone. We are always in a state of purification.

This reading reminded me, and is reminding me, that even in my worst of days the Lord’s love is always available to me. He will meet me where I am. He loves me with an everlasting love.

I simply have to say, “Lord I need you”…

 #ponderings: We can never have too much confidence in the good God Who is so powerful and so merciful. We obtain from Him as much as we hope for. What offends Jesus, what wounds His Sacred Heart, is lack of confidence in Him. If you are nothing, do you forget that Jesus is everything? You have only to lose your nothingness in His Infinity and think only of loving Him. (taken from Day 1 of the St. Therese novena)

A few months ago, I remember going out for a celebratory lunch for my coworker who had just received a promotion. During the lunch, she turned to me, looked me right in the eye and said, “There is nothing more important than employment stability.”

My instant reaction was along the lines of, “Why would she say that to me considering my situation?” My contract was coming to an end, I have opted not to renew it, and I am diving right back into the deep dark pool of unemployment.

However, right behind this feeling was that of great relief and peace. Relief in knowing that I am not bound by the world’s definition of “success,” and peace in knowing that I am in search of greater things than “employment stability.”

Because not even the most stable career can outdo the stability we find in Him.

“Shaken, created things will pass away, so that only what is unshaken may remain. Wherefore, we who are receiving the unshakable kingdom should hold fast to God’s grace.” – Heb 12:27-28

I just came from a Liveloud practice and one of the questions asked during the practice was what does Liveloud mean to you? And how have you been living loud?

What does it mean to live?

To live is to stumble, to get hurt, to feel pain, to laugh, to struggle, to be serious but at the end of the day still have that smile on your face for you know that despite all the things that happened, the Lord is still in control, and for every end, there’s a new beginning.

To live is to die to oneself and let Christ be revealed to the world through you. To live is to let other people not see you but see Christ through you. To live is to be Christ-like.

What does it mean to be loud?

To be loud is to reach beyond our limits. To give everything I have and everything I can when I feel like there’s nothing else to give. To keep on trusting the Lord that everything we do, we can do it for our God is limitless. To be loud is to reach beyond our limits. To reach beyond what we can. To reach beyond what I can reach.

When I was in the room where we were practising earlier, one statement really captured my attention. It was the statement written on the picture of Mother Mary. It says “Put your faith in my Son, Jesus Christ.”

This message really struck me because I was affirmed of what have I’ve been doing, been experiencing, and been discerning for. This is what it means to Liveloud.

LIVELOUD: Putting our full trust on Jesus Christ, despite everything else. To live Christ-like, reaching beyond our limits.

Praise God!

I went to Mass recently, and while waiting for my turn to receive communion there was something unusual that I witnessed. After a little boy received communion, he ran away excitedly with a huge smile on his face. Lol! Seeing that made me smile and brought me great joy.

I have no idea where he ran to because he ran out of the church hahaha. Maybe his family was seated in the hall outside the church. I didn’t know exactly what he was happy about, It could have been many things. Maybe he was excited he’s going home soon, or he received something cool from his parents before Mass or that he just received God during Mass. All I know is that the little boy was excited and joyful and seemed like he wanted everyone around him to see that he was happy and share in that joy.

The Lord told me through that little boy’s actions and emotions that after receiving His Son at Mass, I should always be outwardly excited, happy, and joyful to be and bring  the joy of Christ wherever I go especially after Mass! I should be overflowing with joy in my body as I am in my soul that it overflows among everyone I encounter. Praise God for that little boy 😀

Cause of our Joy, pray for us!
Totus tuus